Holder for reflector and projector lamps



Dec. 22, 1959 c. STEBER 2,913,563

HOLDER FOR REFLECTOR AND PROJECTOR LAMPS Filed Feb. 27, less INVENTOR:

CLARENCE L. STEBER W adv/(3:

United States Patent HOLDER FOR REFLECTOR AND PROJECTOR LAlVIPS Clarence L. Steber, River Forest, 11]., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Pyle-National Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 27, 1958, Serial No. 718,070

3 Claims. (Cl. Z4081) This invention relates to a reflector in general and particularly to a holder for reflector and projector lamp. More specifically, the invention relates to a ball-like or spherical type holder for reflector elements.

The present invention consists in a pair of hollow, semispherical halves or sectionshaving interlocking means so that the two sections may be interlocked together. One section is adapted to have an enlarged hole cut concentrically to receive an electric lamp. The other section is provided with a reinforcement on its inner face, and a lamp socket is secured to the inner face of the second section, there being a hole provided in the second section through the body thereof and through the plate to which the socket is attached and for making electrical contact with conductors leading to the socket. After the lamp receiving opening is cut in one section and the socket member is secured to the other section, the two sections are interlocked together and are mounted on a base which consists of an annular endless coiled spring, whereby the final spherical hollow globe reflector holder may be mounted in any one of a plurality of adjustable positions.

A primary object of the present invention resides in the provisionof forming a hollow spherical reflector holder from a pair of semi-spherical halves or sections, arranging and preforming each section in the desired manner and in the desired configuration, forming an interlocking bead arrangement on each section, and then interlocking the two spherical halves or sections together by the interlocking bead means on the open end of each half section.

Another important object of the invention consists in the provision of a spherical holder for reflector and projector lamp, which consists in forming a pair of semispherical hollow sections, one of the sections having an enlarged opening therein to receive a large electric flood lamp, the other section being provided with a curved reinforcing plate attached to the closed end of the other section and to which an electric lamp socket is secured, each section being provided with interlocking means so that each half section may be later interlocked together.

A further object of the invention consists in providing a globular or spherical reflector holder which is made of two interlocking parts, one part containing a lamp socket member and the other part having an enlarged opening through which the flood lamp is received for electrical contact with the socket member, each of the sections having means for interlocking engagement with each other, there being an annular continuous coiled wire base for receiving the completed lamp for adjustment throughout various angular positions.

A still further object of the invention consists in the method of manufacturing a hollow, spherical reflector by forming the reflector in two separate semi-spherical sections, providing an enlarged opening in one section to receive a flood lamp, applying a reinforcing member to the other section, applying a socket member to the reinforcing plate, providing interlocking means on the contacting rims of each section for interlocking engagement with each other.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the specification which follows.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a certain selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail exploded perspective view showing the two hollow, semi-spherical sections from which the holder for reflector and projector lamps of the invention is made;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the lamp opening in one section, and a reinforcement for the other section, with a cable receiving opening formed in the latter section;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the parts in final assembled relation, said view being on the line 3--3 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing the manner in which the two sections are interlocked and secured together;

Fig. 5 is a detail elevational view of the assembled device mounted on an endless annular coiled spring supporting base; and

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the annular coiled spring upon which the holder for reflector is removably supported for movement throughout various angles.

The particular invention herein disclosed, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, comprises a pair of hollow, semi-spherical sections 1 and 2, Fig. 1, each sec tion being made of metal of any suitable kind including aluminum. After the sections 1 and 2 are formed, the section 2, Fig. 2, is provided with an enlarged circular cut-out or opening 3 in its closed face to receive an electric lamp. The other section 1 is provided at its closed face with a dish-shaped reinforcing plate 4 which is secured on the inside thereof, the member 4 and the rear end of the section 1 being provided Withrelatively small openings 5, 5 and a larger opening 6 which, when the two halves are secured together, the openings 3 and 6 will be in axial alinement with each other. The dishshaped plate 4 is secured to the inside of the section 1 in any suitable manner, such as by welding. The larger opening 6 is adapted to receive an insulated strain relief bushing 7 through which electric conductor means 8 pass. Fastening means, such as screws, 9, 9 also may be used for securing an electric socket 10, Fig. 3, to the plate 4 and to the outer closed end of the section 1. The member 7 is in axial alinement withfthe center of the concentric opening 3 and withthe lamp 11 which has its front end 12 projecting slightly outwardly from the opening 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The rear end of the lamp 11 threadedly engages the threaded shell of the socket member 10 in the usual manner. The end of section 2, having the enlarged opening 3, is provided with an internal annular ledge 13, Fig. 3.

The open ends 14 and 15 of the sections 2 and 1, respectively, are provided with interlocking means 16 which comprises a semi-circular bead-like member 17 and a flange portion 18 on the section 2, and a smaller beadlike section 19 and an extending flange part 20 on the section 1, as shown in Fig. 4. These interlocking bead? like members, of course, are formed on-their respective? sections before assembly. The interlocking means may then be snapped together to form the two halves into a ball or globe-like holder for the reflector-and projector lamp.

It is well known that hollow, spherical reflector holders for emitting purposes have been used before, but they have mostly been done by a spinning operation where a complete sphere or ball-like member was formed. Openings, similar to the openings 3 and 6, were then formed in the preformed ball and the lamp, socket and other apurtenances were then assembled in position. However, such an arrangement is expensive, and while it is well known that the interlocking of two semi-spherical members has been employed before, it is believed that the manufacture of a spherical holder for reflector and projector lamps, made of metal, configurated and formed with proper cut-outs and then later snapped together is novel, and can be manufactured by the two-part construction more economically than in any other manner.

After the parts have been properly assembled, the resultant device will be in the nature of a ball-like member as shown in assembled condition in Fig. 5.

The completed structure is adapted to be supported on a suitable base 21, which, in the present instance, comprises an endlessannular ring made of coiled wire so that the bottom of the coiled wire base 21 rests flat on the bottom surface and the reflector holder will lie on top of the coiled spring. The use of the coiled spring makes it relatively easy to mount the spherical reflector holder thereon and does not interfere with the electric conductor 8. The completed member may be shifted throughout various angles and positions and removably supports the reflector member. The coiled spring consists of a somewhat conventional length of coiled wire, the ends of which are secured together by soldering, welding, brazing or otherwise, so as to make a continuous coiled wired annular member 21.

It has been found that the device of the present invention can be made quickly and easily and more economically than other similar conventional devices, and inasmuch as the parts are made in halves they can be nested together for storage purposes until ready for assembly. In cases where there is a likelihood of the interengaging means becoming unlocked, such as by rough usage or handling, the contacting edges of the sections may be prevented from disengagement by spot welding, or otherwise, as indicated at 22, Fig. 4.

The method consists in providing for easier handling of the parts, and for more easily arranging the openings at the normal closed ends, and thereby the method reduces 4 expense of manufacture and assembly to a considerable extent.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts, and the method may be varied to some extent, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fall fairly within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A holder for a reflector lamp comprising an annular base member and a generally spherical holder member, said base member adapted to rest on a flat supporting surface for adjustably receiving said holder member, said holder member comprising a pair of hollowsemi-spherical sections, coacting interlocking flange means on the open ends of said sections for securing said sections together, one of said sections having an enlarged opening for receiving a reflector lamp therein, a segmental spherical reinforcing plate secured to the other section, and a reflector lamp socket secured to said other section and the reinforcing plate thereof and for mounting the re flector lamp with respect to the holder member, said socket being mounted entirely within said holder mem ber, and the light emitting end of said lamp substantially closing the opening of said one section thereby substantially coinciding with the spherical contour of said holder member.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein said base member comprises a continuously coiled length of wire.

3. The holder of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing plate is secured to the inner surface of the other section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

